Biographical Sketch of John Engelken, Nemaha County, KSGenWeb Digital Library

KSGenWeb - The Primary Source for Kansas Genealogy

KSGenWeb Digital Library

Biographical Sketch
of
John Engelken
Nemaha County, Kansas

Page Design, HTML Coding and Layout - Copyright©1998- by Kenneth Thomas, All Rights Reserved.
The KSGenWeb Project logo Copyright©1996- by Tom & Carolyn Ward, All Rights Reserved.
For the limited use of the KSGenWeb Project. Permission is granted for use only on an Official KSGenWeb Project page.
The Official USGenWeb Project logo designed by Linda Cole.

The following transcription is from a 750 page book titled "Genealogical and Biographical Record of North-Eastern Kansas, dated 1900. These have been diligently transcribed and generously contributed by Penny R. Harrell, please give her a very big Thank You for her hard work!

John Engelken, one of the enterprising and practical farmers of Richmond township, Nemaha county, residing on section 5, was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 20th of February, 1844, and is the eldest of six children born to Bernard and Mary (Cooper) Engelken, natives of Germany. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in 1854, bidding adieu to friends and country, he crossed the Atlantic to the New World taking up his abode in Jo Davies county, Illinois, where he secured government land at a dollar and a quarter per acre.

He improved a farm there, making it his home until 1881, when he came to Kansas. He died at the home of our subject, September 28, 1897, and his widow is now living with her son John, at the age of seventy-nine years. Mr. Engelken, of this review, was a lad of six summers when he came with his parents to the New World. He began his education in the fatherland, but completed his studies in the district schools of Jo Daviess county, Illinois.

Having arrived at years of maturity, he was married in Dorchester, Allamakee county, Iowa, May 28, 1872, to Mary Schulte, who was born in Davenport, Iowa, October 30, 1855, her parents being John B. and Mary Schulte, who were natives of Hanover, Germany, whence they came to America in early life. The mother died when Mrs. Engelken was about eight years of age, and her father passed away when seventy-nine years of age.

Our subject and his wife are the parents of nine children, namely: Mary, the wife of Bernard Rottinghouse, of Nemaha county; Margaret, the wife of Henry Rethmann, of Nemaha township, Nemaha county, Kansas; Ellen; Kate; Bernard, deceased; Elizabeth, Henry; Nora and Otilda.

After his marriage Mr. Engelken located in Allamakee county, Iowa, where he engaged in general farming until 1881, when he came to Nemaha county, Kansas. Here he purchased a tract of wild prairie land, which he has transformed into an excellent farm, making all of the improvements upon the place. He first built a barn, and in that the family lived through the summer, when a substantial
residence was erected. In 1897 he built a very large barn, and these, with the other improvements upon the place, stand as monuments to the thrift and enterprise of the owner.

Mr. Engelken has 242 acres, all under cultivation, and his diligence has resulted in the acquirement of a handsome competence. His political support is given to the Democratic party. For more than ten years he has served as the school clerk. He is a prominent member and one of the officers of St. Mary's Catholic church, and aided in building the house of worship. His life has been quietly passed, yet has been characterized by fidelity to every duty. Such a career is worthy of emulation.

Last update: Friday, August 02, 2024 18:40:12

The Digital Library of the KSGenWeb is a non-commercial entity dedicated to free access to records of genealogical value. All documents contained herein may be freely copied for personal and library use, as long as the KSGenWeb Statement of Use remains attached. These records may not be published in any format, including electronic (web pages or CD's) and print, without prior written consent of the contributor. In order to insure continued free access, violators of this policy will be vigorously pursued.

We invite all contributions of transcribed records with genealogical value. This could range from wills and letters from your personal family records to indexes of your county's marriage records. There are many, many more examples, of course. Anything you have that you are willing to contribute will be gratefully accepted. .

We also accept any non-copyrighted printed materials that you have access to and would like to see transcribed and placed on-line. If the material is copyrighted and you are the copyright holder, please include written permission for use by The KSGenWeb Digital Library.

KSGENWEB DIGITAL LIBRARY PAGE
KSGENWEB HOME PAGE